Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-12
ALICE OATES.
sketch OF tho weIl-Kpown Actress
aud singer.

The Philadelphia Times gives the follow
ins sketch OF Alice Oates, whose deith was
announced in the Dispatch yesterday:
Alice Merritt was born al Nashville.
Tenn, September %, 1919. When butsiX.
teen years old, and while attending school
ut a Catholic convent at Nazareth, KY, sbe
met. james A. Oates, who happened 10
visit the town In the capacity OF theatrical
manager. Mr. Oates fell in love with her
and speedily woOed and wed her. She
renamed at school six months after toe
marriage, and then joined her husband at
Cincinnati, where he was manager OF
Woods Theatre. She made her prOfes.
sional DEBUT In Cincinnati at the Theatre
Comique, where she played minor parts.
In 1868, at a benefit for her husband. she
attracted great deaf OF attention, and her
success was so great that it lead to the or
ganiZation OF an opera company In 1869,
with Mrs. Oates at It's head
Under the management OF Mr.. Hess she
0pencd at the Crosby Opera-House, In Chi
cago, playing the role Of Earl Dirnley in the
"Field OF the Cloth OF Gold" Then they
visited Philadelphia, where they played
long and brilliant engagement, gong next
TO New York, where they played very long
engagement. At this time Mrs. Oates was
beautiful, bright, and charming woman.
Much OF her success was due to her hus-
band, who succeeded Mr.. Hess as mana ger.
In 1872 hr. Oates died at the Grand Hotel,
New York. He left bis widow 81 900, stipu-
lating by will that Mr.. Spauldlng, Of st.
LOUIS, should be her guardian. BY Judicial
proceedings she obtained control OF the
property. Tracy w. Titus, who had joined
the company at Atlanta, Ga, was Mr..
0ates's most trusted man OF business, and
Mr.. Oates recommended his wife to retain
Mr.. Titus o. manager, which was done.
This close relationship resulted In the mar.
riSee ef Mr.. Titus and the widow at the
Southern Hotel, st. Louis. In 1873. Ia 1875
the brilliant opera bouhe artist, who was
then at the height OF her success went to
san Francisco to play for four weeks, but
her reception was so remark able that the
stay was prolonged TO seventeen weeks.
There It was that the quarrel arose
which eliminated in the separation
Of Mr.. Titus and his wife. Subse-
quently Mrs. Oates obtained divorce from
Mr.. Titus at Louisville, aud In 1879, while
playing at the Arch-Strect Theatre, she
was married TO Samuel Z. Watkins, OF this
city, who has since been her manager. Her
last appearance here was in September,
1880, when she opened at the Arch'Street
Theatre. She made 4 number OF trips to
Europe, and once when in Paris she was
made very liberal offer to appear upon the
stage, but her contract with X. Z. j. Miles
prevented its acceptance.
Mr. Harry Allan, now OF the "Mlin
Line" Company, was member OF tue
Oates original company and travelled with
her for seven years. Mr.. Allan says OF the
dead singer: "She was one OF the most
charming women that ever went upon the
stage. She had q natural voice OF great
compass, and her magnetism was such that
the ladies Of the country used to flock to see
her in great numbers, while hundreds OF
little children would walt at the back doors
OF theatres to present her with flowers"
John Holmes, manager OF the Arch
Street Theatre, in speaking OF her. said :
"Sbe was bright, yIvacious, and full OF
wit. She combined the fine qualities Of an
actress and singer, aud was so magnetic
that she never failed to charm.v